Remembering Those Who Have Helped Us

Ross Berry
Jul 11
9 min read

A Helping Hand Along the Way…

Karen and Jay share thoughts on the importance of recognizing and being thankful for all those who have helped each and every one of us along the way.

If you are fortunate enough to have had some successes in your life, the truth is that there were probably some critical moments along the way when it seemed like it would not all work out. When things were on the verge of falling apart. And, in some of those moments, I suspect, there was some angelic person who gave you a helping hand. Who believed in you. Gave you courage. Perhaps financial support or helped in some other special way. And, you know ‘deep down,’ that you would not be where you are today had it not been for that person’s selfless act of support.

We have all had moments like this, and we have all had people who have stepped in to be our guardian angel. And because of this, we need to be properly grateful. It’s important to give recognition and thanks. Although most such ‘angels’ are not really looking for thanks. Nonetheless, our own feeling of gratitude is supremely important, and perhaps the most impactful way for us to show our thanks is to pass the favor forward. To use our time, our resources and our positive spirit to selflessly help someone else in their most critical moment of need.

When we reflect on these moments of quiet heroism, we often realize how a single gesture can ripple through an entire lifetime. A word of encouragement when we were ready to give up. An introduction to someone who would open a door. A small loan that bridged an impossible gap. These are the seemingly modest acts that have the power to change a destiny. And in the grand mosaic of our experience, these gestures shine brighter than any personal achievement because they remind us that no one truly succeeds alone.

Just as we were lifted up when we needed it most, there will come a time when someone else will look to us in their hour of uncertainty. Perhaps they won’t even ask directly. Maybe we will simply sense their quiet struggle or recognize in their eyes the fear of falling short. In those moments, we have a sacred opportunity to step forward, to be the reassuring voice or the outstretched hand. Our willingness to act can make the difference between someone giving up or finding the strength to carry on.

And so, it becomes a kind of beautiful cycle—receiving help, offering help, and inspiring others to do the same. It is how communities are built, how families stay strong, and how each of us honors the unseen angels who once guided us. When we choose to pass along the grace we were shown, we affirm that kindness is never wasted. It echoes on, long after the moment has passed, shaping the world in ways we may never fully see.

Hometown Heroes - The Green Beret Foundation

In every corner of America, men and women have stepped forward to defend our freedom. The Green Beret Foundation exists to remind us that our gratitude should not end when their service does. Founded in 2009, the Foundation provides support to U.S. Army Special Forces soldiers and their families as they transition to civilian life or face the wounds of war. From medical assistance to career counseling and family support, The Green Beret shows that respect is an action, not just a sentiment. Communities across the country are stronger when we stand behind those who stood for us.

The stories of Green Berets who’ve found new purpose thanks to this community span from sea to shining sea. Veterans recovering from severe injuries are connected with mentors and job training that give them a chance to thrive again back home. The Foundation steps in where bureaucracy can’t, making sure no soldier or family falls through the cracks. Many veterans have rebuilt careers, families, and entire lives through this help. Their resilience reflects the true American spirit of never leaving anyone behind.

These efforts remind us that when a hometown hero comes back home, they should find neighbors ready to stand behind them. Communities that rally with fundraisers, volunteer time, and open doors for jobs or housing play a vital role in this mission of care. It’s a testament to our national character that we lift up those who lifted us up first. This spirit of gratitude creates ripple effects that last for generations, teaching our children the meaning of sacrifice and honor.

The Green Beret Foundation also empowers families, recognizing that behind every soldier is a network of loved ones whose sacrifices often go unseen. Counseling, scholarships for children, and emergency support ensure that gratitude flows beyond the uniform. Family stability is community stability, and helping a veteran means helping their family thrive. By supporting these families, communities grow stronger and more connected. That’s how we honor service in everyday life.

As we remember these heroes and step up to help, we keep alive a powerful truth: when we take care of those who served, we strengthen the spirit of service for the next generation. Supporting our veterans is a responsibility we all share. It is an expression of the values that built this country. Gratitude, respect, and action - that’s what keeps America strong.

The Town That Bakes Together - Homeboy Industries

Second chances don’t happen by accident - they happen because someone believes people are worth saving. In Los Angeles, Homeboy Industries has been that "someone" for more than three decades. Founded by Father Greg Boyle, Homeboy has become the largest gang rehabilitation and re-entry program in the world. It transforms lives with simple but radical acts of hope: jobs, training, and unconditional support for people seeking a new path. Their model reminds us what can happen when compassion meets practical help.

Inside Homeboy’s bakery, café, and silkscreen shop, former gang members and people recovering from addiction find steady work and caring mentors. They learn life skills and responsibility, but more importantly, they gain community - a family that believes in them when the world often doesn’t. This belief is powerful fuel for change. Every loaf of bread baked, every shirt printed, is a symbol that someone matters. It’s a second chance brought to life through hard work and trust.

What makes Homeboy special is that it models what small towns do best: looking out for one another, even when it’s hard. In a time when people can feel invisible in big cities or isolated in rural communities, Homeboy reminds us that someone’s past doesn’t have to dictate their future. Communities everywhere can learn from this approach. By creating places of belonging, we prevent cycles of despair.

Thousands have walked through Homeboy’s doors and left with new purpose - baking bread, preparing meals, or crafting t-shirts that carry a message of redemption. Their stories remind us that a helping hand can change not just one life, but ripple out to families and neighborhoods that once felt forgotten. These stories give hope to others watching from the sidelines. They show that real help is practical, personal, and patient. Homeboy proves that with care, lives can be transformed.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors - The Cajun Navy

When disasters strike the Gulf Coast, the Cajun Navy doesn’t wait for permission - they just go. Born out of necessity after Hurricane Katrina, this informal fleet of volunteers has since rescued thousands stranded by floods and storms. Made up of everyday folks - shrimpers, teachers, mechanics - the Cajun Navy shows that heroism lives next door, ready to launch a boat at a moment’s notice. Their story is a lesson in courage and compassion. Communities everywhere are inspired by their example.

When Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, volunteers in bass boats and canoes braved dangerous floodwaters to pull families from rooftops. They didn’t ask for praise; they asked where to help next. During Hurricane Ida, they delivered supplies to isolated towns and checked on elderly neighbors who couldn’t evacuate. They faced down raging winds and swollen rivers to bring food and medicine to those stranded. Each rescue tells a story of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. That’s true community spirit in action.

This grassroots bravery has inspired spin-off groups and local brigades across the South. It’s a reminder that government agencies and official responders can’t do it alone - it takes neighbors, strangers, and everyone in between. All along the Gulf Coast, the Cajun Navy has become a symbol of volunteerism at its best. They coordinate online, organize through apps, and dispatch help faster than red tape can stop them. It’s a movement powered by trust and willingness.

Today, they continue training new volunteers, raising funds for boats and rescue gear, and answering the call whenever nature turns fierce. Behind every rescue is a volunteer’s family who waits at home, knowing their loved one has gone to save a stranger. The sacrifices are quiet but real. They remind us that the best of America appears when we stand up for each other. The Cajun Navy is living proof that heroes are often just neighbors ready to make a difference.

Farmers Feeding Strangers - Farm Rescue

Rural life has always depended on a simple promise: when someone’s in trouble, neighbors show up. Farm Rescue lives out that promise every day across the American Heartland. Since 2005, this nonprofit has sent volunteers and equipment to help family farms stay afloat during medical emergencies, natural disasters, or unexpected crises. For many farmers, that help arrives just in time to save a harvest, a herd, or an entire livelihood. It’s a safety net built on kindness.

When a farmer breaks a leg during planting season or a sudden illness strikes during harvest, Farm Rescue steps in. Volunteers drive tractors, plant crops, or tend livestock so that families don’t lose everything they’ve worked for generations to build. These volunteers travel hundreds of miles to lend a hand. They put in long days under the sun and never send a bill. The gratitude they receive is priceless. Their impact extends far beyond the farm gate.

The impact is staggering: Farm Rescue has helped more than 1,000 families across states like North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, and Montana. Their volunteers are often farmers themselves, who understand that lending a hand today means preserving a way of life for tomorrow. Every acre they plow or seed they sow helps keep rural communities strong. Their work is about more than crops - it’s about community survival.

Neighbors helping neighbors - it’s a simple truth that built small towns and still holds them together. Farm Rescue proves that gratitude is an action. By pitching in, they keep local economies strong and remind us that kindness is a crop worth sowing. The spirit of giving grows as each family helps pay it forward. That cycle of care keeps small towns alive. It is America at its best.

Profile in Sunshine: Joe Ehrmann

This week we are delighted to highlight a leader in the community – who shows gratitude by helping others, Joe Ehrmann.

Joe Ehrmann knows that true strength isn’t measured in trophies or yards gained - it’s measured in how you lift others up. Once an NFL defensive lineman for the Baltimore Colts, Joe found his greatest calling off the field as a coach, minister, and speaker who believes sports can transform lives when rooted in love, integrity, and service. His "Building Men and Women for Others" philosophy has reached thousands across the country. It teaches that greatness is about service, not ego.

Through his "Building Men and Women for Others" work, Joe has spent decades teaching young athletes that character matters more than stats. His workshops help coaches guide kids to become responsible citizens first, champions second. He speaks at schools, sports camps, and community events to spread this message. Joe believes sports are a classroom for life lessons. His commitment is a reminder that mentorship matters.

Joe’s story isn’t just about locker rooms and playbooks. As a pastor, he’s helped lead community youth programs and mentored countless young people who needed someone to believe in them. He stands by kids in their hardest moments, helping them find purpose and hope. His spiritual side guides everything he does. He teaches that faith and compassion can change lives.

His influence reaches from school gyms to corporate boardrooms, as his message - that we become our best selves by serving others - resonates far beyond sports. Companies invite him to teach leadership based on empathy and integrity. Communities invite him to share how teams can heal divisions. Joe’s reach is wide, but his heart stays close to the young people he serves. He shows what it means to give your best for others. That’s a lesson we can all apply.

At a time when so many young people need guidance and positive role models, Joe Ehrmann reminds us that one person’s willingness to care can ripple through entire communities. His life shows that a coach’s greatest victory is who his players become off the field. His legacy will live on in the leaders he shapes.